1. farragut, david glasgow a famous American admiral, of Spanish extraction, born at Knoxville, Tennessee; entered the navy as a boy; rose to be captain in 1855, and at the outbreak of the Civil War attached himself to the Union; distinguished himself by his daring capture of New Orleans; in 1862 was created rear-admiral, and two years later gained a signal victoryover the Confederatefleet at Mobile Bay; was raised to the rank of admiral in 1866, being the first man to hold this position in the Americannavy (1801-1870).